The good folks over at RaleighWhatsUp gave us the heads up that a new Italian eatery is coming to the Brier Creek area. Positalia, a concept out of Wilmington, confirmed they are in fact opening a location here.

We got word this week from reader Jill Anderson, that the Hillsborough Street andNorth Hillslocations of Saxby’s had closed. And thanks to a little help from Dana McCall over at GoGoRaleigh, we learned thatCrepe Traditionswill open in the North Hills location. Jill also confirmed that a crepe place will replace the Hillsborough location as well, although we can’t 100 percent confirm that that will also be a Crepe Traditions (but a logical conclusion would suggest that). Crepe Traditions already has a location in Chapel Hill.

Over in Cary, reader Fonny Lo tipped us off to the fact that East Garden Restaurant over off Walnut Street (next to the Egg & I) opened this week. Unfortunately, I can’t find a web presence for them. You’ll just have to swing by and check it out.

Our catering friends over atDonovan’s Dish (chef TJ and Jill) announced this week that they are moving from their location on Buck Jones Road to to the Old Sweet Memories space at 800 W. Williams St in Apex. The new location will have a retail storefront of chef prepared meals to go, fresh salads by the pound, hors d'oeuvres and seasonal items as well as local N.C. goods and specialty items. Look for them to be up and running in the new space by the middle of next week.

And in downtown Raleigh, the Triangle Business Journal reported that Samad Hachby, the owner ofBabylon, has completed a renovation that virtually turns the single restaurant into two. The indoor portion will feature Moroccan style food with a French twist and the outdoor portion will feature a more Mediterranean feel, what Hachby hopes will feel like a cafe on a Greek island or in the south of Italy.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County restaurant news

The former Southern Rail in Carrboro will become the latest venture for Andrew Moore, owner of the nearby restaurant Venable. He will convert the space into a barbecue joint calledCrossTies Barbecue.They will serve authentic Carolina ‘que with all the fixin’s and feature a variety of smoked meats in a full service menu that features appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. He hopes to have it open by early May. He also announced that he will reopen The Station, hoping to do so by mid-March.

The Durham location ofGuasaca opened this past week in the plaza at 2200 W. Main St. in Durham.

Over in Chapel Hill, got word from @Burgeoningbaker that Jenny Li has openedRed Pepper, a Chinese restaurant offering traditional Szechuan dishes, in the former Cafe 35 space on East Franklin St. near Eastgate Shopping Center.

The new Asian bistro calledMoon Asian Bistro is now open in the northern end of Chatham County just off 15-501 in the Polk Landing shopping center, about 4 miles outside of Chapel Hill.

Over in Durham I got word that construction is under way for the next location ofHappy + Hale,which has its flagship shop on Raleigh’s City Plaza. This second location will be at 703 Ninth St.

Also in Durham, saw on a Yelp message board that there is a 'coming soon' sign for Jimmy's Famous Hot Dogs at the former Waffle House near the intersection of highways 54 and 55 in Durham. Stay tuned.

Closings

The social media world “blew up” this week once word got out thatBelle at the Jones House,a restaurant that opened in 2014 along Academy Street in downtown Cary, had closed indefinitely after being seized for failure to pay taxes, according to the N.C. Department of Revenue.

Not long after that, a similar sign appeared on the doors ofCafe de los Muertos on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh. While their Facebook page confirmed they are currently closed, it suggests have worked things out and will reopen in 2-4 days. Stay tuned!

And we confirmed this week, thanks to a tip from reader Jill Anderson, that Saxby’s has closed both their Hillsborough Street and North Hills locations.

Food Trucks

And over in Durham, the first Durham Central Park food truck rodeo, appropriately named Winter Rodeo, will happen Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. in Durham Central Park and will feature more than 50 trucks. It was originally scheduled to happen last weekend.

The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo has announced its dates for this year: May 1, June 12, Aug. 7 and Oct. 9. VIP early admission wristbands, which let you get in to buy food before the general public, are on sale now.

Holly Springs is hosting a small Food Truck Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center (300 W. Ballentine Street) as part of the 4th Annual Community Arts Festival. The rodeo will feature Stuft, Big C Waffle, and Olio & Aceto.

Foodie Events

Starting this Saturday night, Jan. 30, Standard Foods will host the first of many Late Nite Pop-Ups. Head bartender, Taylor Homes, will host guest bartenders the last Saturday of every month from midnight to 2 a.m, and together, they’ll offer a one-night-only cocktail menu beginning at midnight. Chef de Cuisine Bret Edlund and Head Butcher Steve Goff will take their cue from the cocktails, and serve an adventurous late-night menu to nosh on while the drinks flow. This Saturday, they welcome Garrett Waddell from Stanbury as guest bartender.

Thanks to a tip from Felicia Perry-Trujillo, I was reminded that the Triangle Wine Experience, which benefits the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, is Feb 4-6.

Feb. 20 is the date for the 6th Annual Care to Share Gala to benefit the Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center. It will be held at the Kerr Scott building in Raleigh. The event features a chef challenge in addition to the auction.

Over in Cary at The Umstead, you can learn a little with the one you love at this season’s Artisan Confections pastry event on Feb. 7 featuring the Durham Distillery. Join executive pastry chef Evan Sheridan as he bakes his way through gin and chocolate, and hear how this organic distillery combined art and science to create world-class gins and liqueurs. It begins at 3 pm and tickets are $65 inclusive of tax and gratuity and can be purchased by calling 919-447-4050.

The 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held on April 10, but tickets are already on sale. Visit the DPAC ticket center to avoid service charges.

Durham Magazine and Chapel Hill Magazine will sponsor the third annual TASTE: A Celebration of Food & Drink,happening from April 21 to 23, 2016. The event will feature more than 30 top local chefs and establishments in Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh. A portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Durham Branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. They have some great early bird pricing now too!

Food bank Corner

A huge thank you to all that helped support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina’s Holidays Meal Drive. They reached their goal of providing 2.4 million holiday meals this season by raising over $485,000 in online donations prior to December 31! We are so very thankful and deeply humbled by the outpouring of support. Thank you for your partnership to help provide hunger relief in our region!

Unfortunately the need continues. If you are looking to fulfill a New Year’s resolution to get involved in your community, I encourage you to take a look at the Food Bank. Find out how you can volunteer here.